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Data from mobile apps will unveil the habits of successful anglers and the fish that they are reeling in around the globe, thanks to research at Ball State University

Paul Venturelli, a Ball State biology professor, is teaming up with Fishbrain, the world’s leading social app for recreational anglers; the Technical University of Denmark; and Cefas, an U.K.-based federal agency, to conduct research into sustainable fishing.

“We obtain most of this information by netting fish or surveying anglers,” he said. “These approaches are expensive, which limits the amount of data that can be collected in both space and time. As a result, we often know little beyond our most popular fisheries. We are using Fishbrain data to close this gap. Doing so will save tax dollars, and allow anglers to participate in improving management.”

A research team of faculty and students led by Venturelli will be given access to anonymized data that have been logged by Fishbrain’s network of more than six illion global users.

The aim is to provide unique and valuable insights into the behavior of the global fishing community, as well as a greater understanding of fish populations, including the spatial distribution of trophy catches and the impact of invasive species.

“It’s very difficult to collect the type of information needed to understand the behavior of anglers, who come from every age group and income level,” Venturelli said. “We want to know how they react to a record-setting catch, why they are motivated to fish, and how they respond to the latest regulations.”

Venturelli points out the crowd-sourced data from Fishbrain users will change the way that information about fishing communities and fish populations is sourced and managed. The results, he said, will also empower users to better understand how and where to fish, to ensure that their hobby is not impacting the resource in a negative way. This two-way flow of data between users and decision-makers will help to ensure that fisheries are sustainable for the long term.

”Fishing is among the world’s most popular sports and is growing in popularity among women and young people, said Johan Attby, chief executive officer of Fishbrain. “But fishing needs to remain sustainable, so that it can continue to be widely enjoyed. Our crowdsourced data can help researchers to answer important answers quickly and on a global level. We are excited about these collaborations and proud to be part of this much-needed exploration into sustainable fishing.”